My name is Jen and a year ago I had an idea one evening to organize a charitable run for mental health to raise awareness and funds for CAMH after seeing firsthand the amount of people that were suffering and struggling with this-especially during the pandemic. Last year I ran 250 km in the month of May-50km of that being a 24 hour run and raised $2425.
Like many others, the pandemic has felt like the most stressful and draining couple years in my life. I am a primary teacher and a mom to 4 amazing kids that are aged 11, 9, 7 and 4. I have witnessed the effects of the pandemic on my own children, family, friends, my students and their families. I commend these kids for all that they have been through in the past couple of years. My own children, like many of yours, have had lives go from busy with sports etc.-to lockdowns-back to sports several times over. Like many parents, I have done my best to keep my kids busy with movie nights, campouts, hikes, cooking and everything in between while adjusting to this roller coaster of new "normal".
Kids and family are an important of my life, both personally and professionally. I feel that a lot of people have had so much to deal with and the accessibiliy to mental health care is a serious concern. This past year I have personally witnessed the waitlists for children and the shortages of services for those seeking help. There are children in distress that are waiting months to receive therapy or begin treatment. This to me is unacceptable-seeing adults and children suffering as a result of this.
In doing this run I hope to do two things:
1) Raise money for the ground breaking research and services at CAMH (or donate to your local mental health unit). If you are able to make a donation, big or small, to help those suffering with mental illness it would be so appreciated.
2)Get people talking-check in on your children, your family and friends because many are suffering in silence. Start making noise about the waitlists for services-for children especially. Their parents need help in accessing services for them. You hear so much about the lack of funding and services in mental health-but until you hear stories of desperate parents seeking help for their children-you really don't fully comprehend the alarming state our mental health care is in Ontario.
This years run plan:
Run 200 km in 20 days beginning on May 2
Part of that being a run called the "Goggins Challenge"-4 miles x every 4 hours x for 48 hours
Please donate today-big or small-to help those suffering with mental illness.
Did you know that 1 in 5 Canadians experience mental illness in any given year? And that 4,000 Canadians die by suicide every year—almost 11 people per day?
And yet, many don't realize that, in its most severe forms, mental illness can be fatal.
With your support, we can change how the world sees and treats mental illness. We can break down stigma and lead important conversations about suicide prevention. We can give people time to get the help they need; families time to heal; and researchers and clinicians time to make breakthroughs and offer new treatment options.
Together, we can give people hope for a better tomorrow.
